Ukrainian President ready to hold early elections

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on February 20 that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych told European Union (EU) envoys that he was ready to hold early elections this year after clashes between anti-government protesters and police in the capital Kiev left dozens dead.

Speaking to reporters in Warsaw, Prime Minister Tusk said the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland had held talks with Mr Yanukovych on 20 February to produce a document "that could give some hope to break the current chain of violence". "Among the things agreed with Mr Yanukovych is that early elections will be held this year, both presidential and parliamentary," he said.

Mr. Yanukovych announced to EU envoys about the plan for early elections in Ukraine. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)

The Polish prime minister added that the Ukrainian president is ready to form a national unity government in the next 10 days and change the constitution before the summer. Tusk also said that opposition leaders in Ukraine are also studying the document, although it is still in draft form. However, he said that "it is very difficult to take these proposals seriously."

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said no agreement had been reached on a proposed roadmap to defuse the crisis in Ukraine, describing the negotiations as difficult and EU foreign ministers trying to reach a peace deal. Earlier, Ukrainian opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko said he hoped the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland could present a roadmap to President Yanukovych and opposition leaders by the evening of February 20.

In a related development, Kiev city authorities said on February 20 that at least 67 people were killed in three days of violence in the center of the capital Kiev, 551 people were injured, including 332 people hospitalized since February 18./.

According to VNA